Violet-green swallow in fight
Returning to the house, I find the violet-green swallow flock that had been present in the lower orchard earlier in the summer, had returned - they had completely disappeared for probably the last four weeks or so.
The small flock lined the utility wires crossing the lower orchard
Their chattering presence enlivens the lower orchard
Must be the same flock, because there was also one barn swallow pair with them before -
Barn swallow
Barn swallow landing on lower orchard utility wire
Barn swallow, lower orchard
Barn swallows accompanying the violet-greens - one on left might be a juvenile
California towhee on fence post
Elsewhere on the property - rare daytime sighting, the sonoma county gray fox - cutting through the back orchard behind the house - mostly have seen these at night or early evening, when the light hasn't been good for a photograph.
Gray fox, back orhcard
BACK AT THE LAGUNA - Great egret on oak tree top next to the waterway.
Great egret on tree top
Male Wison's warbler, the Laguna
Pacific slope flycatcher, the Laguna
Chestnut-backed chickadee, the Laguna Wasn't having much luck, until a flock of chestnut-backed chickadees came through, and with them were many other small birds - comfort in numbers.
With the chickadee flock was also a brown creeper
Brown creeper, the Laguna
Small flock of bushtit also traveling with the chickadees
Even the warblers seemed more active - female Wilson's warbler
Quite a few Downy woodpeckers as well - here is the male Downy
Dark shot of our black-crowned night heron - they roost in this tree
 Belted Kingfisher, the Laguna | Making a racket in a far tree was the Belted Kingfisher, only I could not get any good photos - too far away. This is the best of some mostly blurry shots. However, hopefully I can surprise this wondrous bird in the future... |